August 29, 2025, Mangalsen, Achham – Saathi, under the GBVPR-II program supported by UNFPA, successfully convened a coordination meeting in Mangalsen, Achham on 29 August 2025 to strengthen grievance handling mechanisms and ensure the sustainability of Safe House services.
The meeting brought together over 30 key stakeholders, including the Chief District Officer Mr. Ananda Saru, Mayor of Mangalsen Municipality Mr. Padam Bahadur Bohora, Vice Chair of DCC Ms. Danmati Bam Shahi, Deputy Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Khanal, municipal officials, ward representatives, UNFPA, OCMC, health professionals, and civil society organizations. The session was facilitated by Ms. Manju Mahat, Chief Women Development Officer.
Key Highlights
- Commitment to Sustainability
Saathi’s Program Manager, Ms. Palita Thapa, emphasized the urgent need for reliable funding, adequate infrastructure, and quality integrated services for GBV survivors. She also highlighted the importance of survivor reintegration and strong coordination among stakeholders. - Safe House Progress and Challenges
Safe House representative Ms. Lalita Rawal presented achievements to date and highlighted persisting gaps in resources, infrastructure, and reintegration support. - Grievance Handling Mechanism
Stakeholders acknowledged the importance of a structured grievance redressal process. Guidelines are being finalized, and the mechanism will soon be introduced to ensure accountability and timely responses for survivors. - Addressing Harmful Practices
CDO Mr. Saru highlighted the persistence of Chhaupadi practices in Achham, stressing the need for joint efforts to eliminate such traditions. He assured that the District Administration Office would remain supportive in ensuring safe house sustainability. - Stakeholder Coordination
Mayor Bohora reaffirmed the municipality’s leadership in mobilizing local levels for Safe House operations, while Vice Chair Shahi stressed the need for collaborative efforts to ensure quality services.
Mr. Bharat Gotame, UNFPA Coordinator, further emphasized maintaining minimum service standards to guarantee dignity, safety, and quality for survivors.
Next Steps
The meeting concluded with concrete action points:
- Relocating the Safe House to a safer and more suitable site to improve functionality.
- Creating a municipal web portal to disseminate Safe House-related information, ensuring survivors and the wider community have accessible information.
This joint commitment marks an important step toward strengthening GBV response mechanisms and ensuring sustainable, survivor-centered support in Achham
